Vacuum Cleaner buying guide
Upgrading your vacuum? This guide will help you decide which type of Vacuum Cleaner best suits you, your floors and the job at hand. From Stick Vacuums, Robot Vacuums, Carpet Cleaners to Upright Vacuums, The Good Guys has the latest technology from the best brands including Dyson, Electrolux, Miele, Bosch, Samsung, LG, Hoover, Bissell and more.

Which Vacuum is right for you?
There are many different kinds of vacuums out there, and one of them is your perfect fit. When choosing, make sure you consider your physical space, how it suits your families lifestyle, and of course your budget.

Fits your lifestyle
With a huge range of vacuums on the market packed with the latest features, learn about each type to discover which will be the perfect match for you and your family.

Fits your space
Jump to our maintenance tips and features to look out for to find the perfect fit for your home and family.

Fits your budget
Finding the right vac for you also means finding the right price point. The Good Guys has amazing Deals every day - check it out now!
“The ultimate home helper for the time poor or those who would rather do anything but clean floors, robot vacuums are a dream come true.” - Nick Trajkovski, Microwaves and Floorcare Buyer for The Good Guys
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Types of Vacuum Cleaners
With so many different designs and brands to choose from, it can be difficult to know which vacuum cleaner is right for you. The good news is that the various types give you different options when it comes to cleaning your floors, furniture and more. Click the 'Read More' buttons below to discover everything you need to know about each type of vacuum.
Stick Vacuums
The meteoric rise of stick vacs in recent years has seen many households switch to a stick vac as their only vacuum cleaner. And some people can’t stop at one! “We often get customers buying one for each floor in the home for quick clean-ups and to save fetching and carrying them around,” says Nick Trajkovski, Microwaves and Floorcare Buyer for The Good Guys.A sleek and lightweight version of an upright vac, stick vacs are powered by a battery, which can be recharged at a charging station that stays plugged into a power socket. Stick vacs collect dust and dirt in a small bin attached to the top or bottom of the unit.
Stick Vac pros
One of the best things about stick vacs is that they require absolutely no set-up. You simply remove it from its charging station, turn it on and start vacuuming. Great to have on hand for surprise visits from friends or family, stick vacs can be whipped out for a quick clean before company arrives.Consider storing your stick vac in a tall cupboard near the kitchen so you can instantly deal with breakfast crumbs, or do a quick daily vacuum of the main living areas.
Features to look for
Before you buy, ask about the battery runtime to ensure your stick vac will stay powered up for as long as you need it to. This will depend on the size of your house and whether or not it’s your only vacuum cleaner.Other features to consider include two-in-one stick vacs with a detachable handheld vac for small jobs; a “turbo” mode for stronger suction; a wall dock for convenience; and handy attachments for the car, furniture, upholstery and hard to reach places.
Other considerations
Also look out for stick vacs with removable batteries that can be charged in a separate location to your vacuum. This is a really handy feature if you don’t have a power point in the cupboard and would prefer to store your stick vac out of sight.
Robot Vacuums
The ultimate home helper for the time poor or those who would rather do anything but clean floors, robot vacuums are a dream come true. Low to the ground, robot vacs are disc-shaped and move independently across the floor’s surface. Like stick vacs, they are powered by a rechargeable battery in a charging dock.“Their sensor technology means that some Robot Vacuums won’t bump into furniture or fall down the stairs,” says Nick Trajkovski. “We often find customers love their robot vacs so much, they give them a name.”
Robot Vac pros
It goes without saying that the biggest advantage of a robot vac is quite simply that you don’t have to do any work! Simply turn it on or program when you’d like it to run (while you are at work, perhaps?) and let your robot vac do the rest.
Features to look for
Models with infrared lasers determine the layout of the room and map your preferred route. Some can also be activated with voice command via your smart speaker.
Other considerations
Want your robot vac to mop your floors, too? Who wouldn’t? Look out for a unit with a water tank that mops your floors after they’ve been vacuumed.Some barrel vacs feature quiet technology. This makes them easy to run if the baby is asleep or someone in the house is studying or watching TV.
Carpet Cleaners
A combination of clean solution, powerful scrubbing and vacuum suction, no stain will stand a match against a Carpet Cleaner. With brushes to loosen up the stain, and then the powerful suction power to lift it away - it is the perfect way to keep your rugs, carpets and even upholstery a fresh.
Carpet Cleaner pros
The popularity of carpet cleaners is rapidly growing - and for good reason, with so many incredible benefits. From extending the life of your carpet (and keeping it looking like new), to removing odours.Plus, what carpet cleaners are known for - being able to remove tough stains and dirt, it is ideal for those who love to host, big families or just homes that get a lot of foot traffic!
Features to look for
Before you buy, consider tank capacity. If you want a carpet cleaner that is light and easy to maneuverer than a lower capacity would be better suited. Alternatively, if you want to get big jobs done without needing to refill often - go for a larger water capacity.Another features to consider is weight and cord length, you can find these details online in the Key Features section of each product or visit in store to see some product in person.
Upright Vacuums
An upright vacuum is an all-in-one unit. Much like a barrel vac and stick vac combined, it has an upright design but a larger bin and motor than a stick vac. For many people, upright vacuums offer the best of both worlds.
Upright Vac pros
More powerful than a stick vac, upright vacs are a good option for those who prefer a bigger capacity for larger-scale cleaning sessions, and all-in-one design.
Features to look for
A wide head and a powerful motor will take your upright vacuum far. Also, a carpet height selector will help you get deep into thick pile carpets for a more thorough clean.
Barrel Vacs vs Upright Vacs
When deciding between a barrel vac and an upright vac, it all comes down to personal preference. Upright vacs only require a pushing motion but are heavier and slower to manoeuvre given their all-in-one design. Barrel vacs have a lighter wand but require you to pull the wheeled canister around doorways and furniture, where it can sometimes get stuck.
Pet Vacuums
Do you share your home with a furry friend? Good news. A select group of vacuums is dedicated to ridding your house of pet hair and dander, which can be a big help if you have family members who suffer from allergies. Pet vacuums usually include a sizeable bag or bin to provide space for the extra waste, HEPA filter, and brush heads designed to release fur from carpet and upholstery.
Vacuum Cleaners and allergies
Vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter are a great option for people who suffer from allergies, asthma or dust sensitivity. Short for High Efficiency Particulate Air, HEPA filters trap tiny particles and irritants that aren’t visible to the eye. Some can be washed in cold water, but most will need to be replaced about once a year.
Handheld Vacuums
For smaller clean-up jobs, a handheld vacuum is quick and easy to use. Like an extension of your own arm, these handy appliances let you vacuum couches, small messes, dusty windowsills and the car interior with minimum fuss. Look out for models that clean up wet spills too, wall mounts for organised storage, and attachments suited to different surfaces.
Cordless vs Corded Vacuums
At first, the freedom of movement offered by a cordless vacuum might make it seem superior to models with cords. However, as cordless models run on battery power, this does make them slightly heavier to use, as the battery is part of the appliance. You’ll also need to make sure the battery is powered up when you need to use it. Finally, a corded model can give you peace of mind that you’ll finish a bigger job without running out of juice.
Watch our helpful cleaning buying guides
From finding your perfect vacuum type, to robot vacuum tech and completing your cleaning suite with laundry appliances - check out our Buying Guide videos for all the tips.
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From handy stick vacs to robot vacs, here's how to find your match.
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Our guide on everything you need to know before you purchase a robot vac.
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Explore our washing machine buying guide for the perfect washer dryer duo.
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Find everything you need to make the right choice for your home's dryer.
How to choose your perfect match
Getting one of the biggest and most regular jobs done around the house is now a lot easier thanks to the latest leaps and bounds in vacuum cleaner technology. Upgrading your old appliance could save you precious time – and effort. Here are the features to consider to find your perfect match.
Maintenance tips & tricks
Depending on the type of vacuum, there are some key maintenance tips you should consider to keep your vacuum working in tip top shape. Here are our top tips for Stick and Robot Vacuums!
Stick Vacuums
Due to their smaller bin size, stick vacs are quick and easy to clean. Simply remove the bin from the unit and empty it into your main rubbish bin or compost. You’ll also need to remove dirt and hair from the brush roller and head, and occasionally clean the filters.
Robot Vacuums
Some robot vacs need to be emptied manually, while others can automatically deposit the dust and debris they’ve collected into a larger bin in the docking station. Once again, this reduces your workload and the number of times you’ll need to empty the vacuum’s bin.
Floor type
Wondering what vacuum would be best suited to your homes floor type? Here's our run down!
Stick Vacuums
Stick vacs are best suited to hard floors, but they can also give carpets a solid freshen up. For a thorough carpet clean, you may want to team your stick vac with a barrel or upright vac.
Upright Vacuums
Upright vacs are suitable for hard floors and carpet. They can also be used to clean upholstery.
Robot Vacuums
Robot vacs work best on hard floors. They can also be used on carpets to give them a light clean.
HEPA filter
What is a HEPA filter?
HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air filters) can be found in all different types of vacuum cleaner. But what exactly are they – and why are they the allergy sufferer’s best friend?“HEPA filters trap tiny particles and irritants that aren’t visible to the eye by forcing air through a fine mesh, so they’re ideal for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or dust sensitivity,” says Anthony Flynn, Senior Research and Evaluation Manager, Asthma Australia. “Vacuums without high-quality air filters can blow these small allergen particles back into the air, to be breathed in, but HEPA filters are considered the best, because they trap up to 99 per cent of them.”
Smart tech
Not sure where to begin when looking at all the new tech now available in the floorcare market? Here are some of our top call-outs you should keep a look out for!
AI mapping
A game changer for robot vacs, AI mapping now available on a handful of models, will be able to detect your environment and avoid any obstacle. For even more convenience, look for a robot vacuum that mops too so you can check off another household chore!
Display screens
Want to ensure a thorough clean? With an LCD or LED Screen - you can confirm that you have cleaned all the debris in real-time.
Clean what you can't see
Feel like you still have dust around your home even after a clean? With infrared or laser sensors, detect the dirt you can't see for a complete house clean!
Discover popular Vacuum Cleaner brands
Discover Bissell Carpet Washers
Tackle unexpected mess with ease with Bissell's range of spot and carpet cleaners, the perfect way to keep your home fresh and clean. Available in store and online at The Good Guys.
Dyson Gen5Detect™ Absolute
Dyson's most powerful HEPA cordless vacuum yet! Featuring great suction power, a beautiful LCD display screen, and a Fluffy Optic cleaner head (that reveals 2x more invisible dust)!
Stay charged & ready with Shark
Introducing the Shark Cordless Detect Pro. With the power of dirt detect, it not only fights hidden grime but also takes care of itself. Docked and ready, it charges and empties automatically, so you can say goodbye to the hassle of manual clean-ups.
More tips, advice & buying guides
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Customer rated: The best selling Vacuum Cleaners to buy now!
February 6•3 mins readShopping for the right vacuum cleaner for your home can be a real brain drain. Bagged or cordless? Barrel or upright? A rockin’ robot vacuum straight from The Jetsons? So many brands and styles to consider! That’s why we love collecting customer reviews at The Good Guys.
Our customer testimonials make choosing your next vac that much easier. What’s more, if our customers love a particular make or model enough, we bump it to Top Seller status. That means you can go forth and buy with complete confidence, knowing that all our Top Seller vacuum picks are among the best-rated vacuum cleaners in Australia!
From the best barrel vacuum for removing Fido’s hair from your sofa to the best stick vacuum cleaner for spotless surfaces to the best robot vacuum cleaner and mop for all-round floorcare wizardry, here are the wonder vacs that Australian households have tried, tested – and loved!
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Breathe easy: 5 best Vacuums for allergy sufferers
November 30•3 mins readAre itchy eyes and drippy noses getting you down? No one should have to suffer allergies in their own home. Whether it’s dust, pollen or pet dander setting you off, having the right vacuum cleaner to blitz those pesky allergens can be a game changer!
From traditional barrel vacs and upright models, to the latest stick designs (and ones specifically built for pets!), we’ve sourced the best vacuums to nix those nasties from floors, couches, rugs and curtains. Say goodbye to sneezing spells and hello to a healthier, happier home life!
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Why you should buy a Robot Vacuum Cleaner
November 1•4 mins readMake life easier and level up your cleaning (with minimal effort!) with the addition of a robot vacuum cleaner. It wasn’t long ago that robot vacuums were thought of as a thing of the future, but they’ve quickly become a must-have item for many families. Offering intelligent cleaning with enhanced performance, most of the newer models acquire the latest features in tech, allowing you to connect a compatible smartphone and home Wi-Fi network to set your robot vacuum to work from anywhere, at any time.
Working from home? Don’t let the housework distract you – a robot vacuum can clean while you work – even when you’re back in the office! If you’ve been pushing around a traditional vacuum cleaner and want to introduce a robot vacuum cleaner into your cleaning routine, then now’s the perfect time to upgrade.
Shop our range of robot vacuum cleaners here or our full range of vacuum cleaners here.
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How to future-proof your Vacuum Cleaner
February 7•6 mins readIt might not be your favourite job, but chances are you take for granted how easy it is to do a quick zip around with your vacuum cleaner. It wasn’t so long ago that vacuum cleaners sounded like a 747 at take-off and required Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque muscles to manoeuvre them from room to room. The latest models are marvels by comparison – lightweight (or hands-free!), quiet and packed with convenient features that deliver an unbeatable clean.
The Good Guys, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this month, has been there for every vacuuming victory. That’s why you can trust our team of experts to give you the best advice when it comes to choosing the right one for your home.
Here’s the checklist of features to look for to future-proof your next vacuum cleaner purchase.
Vacuum Cleaner glossary
We’ll break down all the tech talk and acronyms that you need to know.
Allergen
A substance that can cause an allergic reaction. Common allergens include pollen, animal dander, dust mites, and mould.
Air flow
The force exerted by the moving air which picks up the dirt and moves it into the dustbin. This is one of the most important factors to determine the efficacy of a vacuum cleaner.
Bagless
All cordless vacuum cleaners are bagless, so that dirt is trapped inside a canister and emptied into a bin. It saves the user from having to replace the bags.
Battery Management System (BMS)
A BMS is an electronic regulator that monitors and controls the charging and discharging of rechargeable batteries.
Capacity
The capacity - or size - of a vacuum cleaner determines how much dust it can hold, which is measured in litres. Cordless vacuum cleaners typically have capacities between 0.3 to just over 1 litre.
HEPA
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) is an efficiency specification for filters developed by the Atomic Energy Commission during World War II to remove radioactive dust from plant exhausts without redistribution. The original specification required that the filter must be capable of capturing 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3µm in size from the air which flows through it. In Europe, it is more common to refer to the same filter as an S-Class. The phrase is as small as means that if all particles were that small, it would still have that efficiency. Just for reference, a particle of 10 microns is invisible to the naked eye. Pollen ranges between 5-100 microns and human hair between 70-100 microns.
Microns (µ)
The measurement that is used in vacuum cleaners. The millionth part of a meter. To put this into perspective, the diameter of a human hair is typically 80 to 100 microns. The term is often used in describing the sizes of particles retained by air and water filters and for specifying particle sizes for the HEPA filtration specifications.
Voltage
Voltage reflects the electrical potential employed by a motor. Typically, most motors can operate using common household current, which is 240 volts in Europe.
Watts
Wattage is referred to as the power that is pushed into the vacuum motor. The higher the wattage is, the more power and output from the appliance.
FAQs
Shopping for the right vacuum for you and your home can be a drain. With so many options from bagged to cordless, upright or barrel - it's often hard to know where to start. The Good Guys have incredible vacuums from high tech stick vacs to next-level convenience with Robot Vacs that will vacuum and mop your floors!Why not check out our customers testimonials from our top rated Vacuum Cleaners. These vacs are tried, tested and loved by Australian households and have our tick of approval!Otherwise - you could check out our top sellers for our most popular Vacuum picks.
If you dread the chore of vacuum week on week then Robot Vacuums are definitely worth it! Robot Vacuums bring next level convenience, and with growing innovations in suction power and additional tech - its no wonder they are rapidly growing in popularity.They can also work really well to prevent the build up of dust and debris, cutting down your regular vacuuming (even whilst you're at work)! Some of the latest models have suction power that will keep your home completely clean - with some models even offering mopping functions.Shop Robot Vacuums at The Good Guys.
The choice to go for a bagged or bagless vacuum depends on what feature are important to you.If you value having a light, compact machine that is easy and coinvent to move around you should definitely go bagless. Bagless models are growing in popularity due to the their light weight and easy to remove dust bin.On the other hand - if you're an allergy sufferer or someone who wants to ensure all dust is gone, a bagged vacuum featuring HEPA Filtration may be your perfect match.Still not sure? Visit us in-store to talk to a friendly team member or check out our extensive range online.
Cleaning your vacuum is an important part of maintaining your machine - helping it run better. How to clean your vacuum will depend on what kind of vacuum you have, we recommend checking your vacuums manual for more specific tips.